Osman came off the bench to win an injury-time penalty from which Leighton Baines scored the equaliser in a 1-1 draw at the Britannia Stadium yesterday.

Stoke winger Oussama Assaidi, on loan from Liverpool, had seemingly consigned the Goodison outfit to only their third Premier League defeat of the campaign with his 49th-minute opener.

And Martinez was thankful for Osman, whose topsy-turvy festive period had already seen him at fault for Sunderland’s shock winner on Boxing Day before skippering the side to victory over Southampton.

“I was really pleased with Leon Osman,” said the Everton manager. “Football is a game of risks, you will make mistakes and it’s all about how you react to things like that (his mistake v Sunderland).

“Osman is one of the reliables in the dressing room. He represents Everton and you know when you are facing adversity, you can rely on him.

“The way he has coped with what happened over Christmas is magnificent. I’m delighted with him and he’s set those standards and I’m pleased he has shown those magic feet in the box at the right time.”

Despite the late equaliser, Everton have dropped out of the Champions League qualification places and now stand a point adrift of fourth-placed neighbours Liverpool.

Martinez, though, believes his side deserve credit for the manner in which they responded to Stoke’s opener and was disappointed not to snatch all three points.

“It would have been tough for us not to have got anything from the match,” he said. “I thought that whoever scored the first goal would be final. When we hit the woodwork twice then you start to feel it isn’t going to be your day.

“Stoke’s first proper chance drops to them outside the box and ends up in the back of the net and it seemed that was the worst possible case at that moment.

“We weren’t at our best by any stretch of the imagination but what we showed was an incredible, incredible reaction.

“To have then had two balls cleared off the line and won the penalty thanks to the magic feet of Leon Osman, was a good reward and has left me left me feeling we have dropped two points.”

With Sylvain Distin joining Phil Jagielka on the sidelines and John Heitinga negotiating a transfer to West Ham United, John Stones was handed the first Premier League start of his career alongside Antolin Alcaraz at centre-back.

And Martinez was delighted with the way in which the makeshift pairing performed.

“I couldn’t be happier with centre-back partnership,” said the Catalan. “Young John Stones is going to be one of the best defenders in the English game.

“I was so impressed with him against Juventus in pre-season and he has been working hard since, so I knew he was ready.

“He is a born leader and we are going to see something special in his career. He has played right-back many times but John has everything to be a good modern centre-half. He is good on ball and in the air and reads the game well, but more importantly is a leader.”

Of Distin’s injury, Martinez added: “Sylvain felt his hamstring against Southampton and kept playing in the second half.

“He won’t be out for too long, 10 to 12 days perhaps. It’s just a little nick in his hamstring.”

Stoke manager Mark Hughes insisted his team deserved three points but bemoaned the rash challenge by substitute Jermain Pennant that gave Baines the chance to equalise from the spot.

“We are disappointed not to get the maximum points as our performance deserved that,” said the Welshman.

“We put our bodies on the line and when you get to a few minutes from the end you expect to see it out, but we made a mistake and they got a penalty.

“Jermaine made a mistake, and when a right decision was required he miscalculated and it was a stonewall penalty.

“Only a few weeks ago we were beaten comprehensively at Goodison, so we have turned that around.”